Alabama at Atlanta, 8/30/08
Again. Each time we think the Tigers have turned the corner in talent and ability to win, they disappoint us in a big game. Bowden’s record in not being able to get the team focused and ready for a big game is just flat horrible. I’m writing this Monday morning. So Bowden has had his press conferences to give the media a chance to hear his thoughts on his team’s performance. Bowden said he was responsible and that the team was not ready, but then, then, he goes off on a wild tangent and gives the media the sound bite “human error.” As if someone made a mistake that caused the collapse of the team. I know what he was saying but once he uttered that sound bite, it took all the focus off his accepting any responsibility. Talk about human error. What was he thinking? And, more important, what is Phillips thinking?
It bothers me that Bowden does not seem to understand that Clemson fans DO NOT CARE that Virginia Tech got beat by LSU, that Southern Cal lost to Stanford. Clemson fans care about the Tigers, period. So who was Bowden talking to? There are two choices: a potential future employer or Terry Don Phillips. I actually liked it when he wouldn’t stop walking to talk to the ESPN reporter as he left the field after the game and all he would say was a terse, gruff, “we got whipped.” I hope he retains that anger at his team’s performance at practice this week. We shouldn’t need tough practices for Citadel, but we do need them to let this team know that there are consequences to lack of effort, intensity, and focus.
I got to watch this game from the end zone. My seats in Death Valley are in the upper deck, which I love because you can see the plays develop downfield and the overall pattern of them. It’s been a long time since I watched from the end zone. It’s a perspective that finally solved a problem for me. There has always been something about Spence’s offense that bothered me. He’s had some success, and I couldn’t put my finger on what bothered me. From the end zone and with Alabama’s execution to help, it became clear. Spence’s offense depends on influencing the defense with time and spacing and pattern. Everything in the play is designed to move the defense into a certain position and then exploit that position. Alabama’s offense, on the other hand, especially in the running game, focuses on concentrating blocking at the point of attack. I see now why the Tigers have repeatedly had problems in short yardage situations. They don’t know how to block that point of attack because they are spending their practice time learning all those patterns and how the defense may react to them. You saw Saturday night what happens when a defense just ignores what you’re doing and just works at overwhelming you and getting penetration. You don’t influence them at all and your running backs never get a chance to read the pattern and run to daylight. Of course, that is not a problem if you can’t figure out a way to get the ball to the best running backs in college football, but that’s another story.
There’s really not a lot to say about this game. Alabama simply dominated the Tigers physically. I think Larry Williams, in his blog, had the best description of the Tigers reaction to playing a team with the tradition of Alabama on national TV, with high expectations, and a top ten ranking: “The Tigers looked terribly unfit to be on this stage. You know, the stage on which they were supposed to prove themselves worthy of the Top 10 ranking and all that. Yeah, the offensive line has a looooooong way to go. And yes, the defensive line was almost shockingly soft. But on so many occasions in this game, this had the look of a team that was peeing down its leg in the face of such pomp and circumstance.” (ref) That hurts for a Tiger fan, but it was just too true.
But, thank goodness it was the first game. Win the next 11 and maybe, just maybe, the Tigers can wipe away the taste this one left.
Go Tigers!!!! Beat Citadel (and even having to say that better be a joke).